Jerome Klinkowitz collection of Walter Abish writings

Collection

Identifier: C-20

Scope and Contents

The collection primarily consists of letters and proofs of stories sent by Abish to Klinkowitz. In many instances, the stories include notations and editorial remarks (presumably by Abish and Klinkowitz). The contents of Abish's letters suggest that the two men developed a friendship following an initial interview of Abish by Klinkowitz. Abish and Klinkowitz sent their work to one another for commentary and review. Works sent by Abish to Klinkowitz are in individual folders with their enclosing letter, while general correspondence with no enclosed literary works have been filed together. Abish also sent Klinkowitz copies of articles from various news publications regarding his nomination for the PEN/Faulkner Award in 1981 for the novel, "How German Is It," (also in collection). Also included are Klinkowitz's interview with Abish, as well as two articles written by Klinkowitz about Abish.

Dates

Creation: 1974-1985

Creator

Klinkowitz, Jerome, 1943- (Person)

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish materials, contact: Special Collections & Archives Middlebury College Phone: (802) 443-2387 Email: specialcollections@middlebury.edu

Biographical / Historical

Jerome Klinkowitz is an American writer, literary scholar, book editor, and professor. Klinkowitz has written a number of bibliographies and critical works (with particular focus on Kurt Vonnegut), as well as collections of short stories. Walter Abish is an Austrian-American author of experimental novels and short stories. Abish was born to a Jewish family in Vienna, Austria, and fled from the Nazis with his family first to Italy and Nice, and then to Shanghai. Abish moved to the United States from Israel in 1957, and won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction in 1981 for his book "How German Is It." Abish has also received a Guggenheim Fellowship, a MacArthur Fellowship, and has taught at a number of American colleges and universities.

Extent

1 Box

Additional Description

Arrangement

Collection is arranged chronologically.

Folder 1: Abish letters to Klinkowitz, 1974-1983;
Folder 2: "Life Uniforms" and "Crossing Friends," 1974;
Folder 3: Klinkowitz writings on Abish, 1974-1982;
Folder 4: "Crossing Friends," 1974;
Folder 5: "This is Not a Film," 1974;
Folder 6: Photos, 1974-1976;
Folder 7: "Self Portrait" and "The Messenger About-faces," 1976;
Folder 8: "The Idea of Switzerland," 1980;
Folder 9: "The Writer-to-be: An Impression of Living," 1980;
Folder 10: Articles about PEN/Faulkner nomination, 1980-1981;
Folder 11: "How German Is It," 1980;
Folder 12: "What Else?" 1981;
Folder 13: "On Aspects of the Familiar World," 1981;
Folder 14: "Wie deutsch ist es?" article, 1982;
Folder 15: "Family," 1984;
Folder 16: "The Fall of Summer," 1985